Wegovy® Tablets
Wegovy® Tablets
Wegovy® Tablets
- Can affect appetite and food cravings
- Patients lost 16.6% of body weight on average with lifestyle changes*
- Available from £19.99 a week
*OASIS 4 trial, oral semaglutide 25mg, 16.6% mean weight loss at Week 64 amongst adherent participants.
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The Wegovy tablet is, as its name implies, the pill form of the weight loss treatment Wegovy.
On this page, we’ll cover:
What is the Wegovy pill – How it works and how it assists weight loss
The difference between Wegovy pills and Wegovy injections – Dosage differences, usage instructions, etc.
Wegovy pill side effects – Including nausea, constipation and stomach pain
What is the Wegovy tablet?
The Wegovy tablet is the pill form of Wegovy, which is used to assist in weight management. These contain the same active ingredient as Wegovy, semaglutide, and act in the same way to help patients lose weight.
How does the Wegovy tablet work?
The semaglutide in the Wegovy tablet is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. This means it mimics the effects of the hormone GLP-1, which is normally found in the intestine and released when you eat. It’s used to stimulate insulin secretion and can affect appetite.
By imitating the effects of GLP-1, semaglutide can:
Reduce your appetite and reduce ‘food noise’
Slow how long it takes for food to leave the stomach (increasing how long you feel full)
Increase insulin secretion when blood sugar levels are high
Overall, this encourages you to eat less. This could help you lose weight combined with healthy changes to your lifestyle like a reduced-calorie diet and increasing the amount of regular exercise you do.
How long does the Wegovy tablet take to work?
Wegovy can start to affect your appetite and cravings within the first few weeks. It can take longer for noticeable effects on weight loss, though this can be helped by the healthy lifestyle changes mentioned in the section above.
Who can take the Wegovy tablet?
As a prescription-only medicine (POM) you would only be able to be prescribed Wegovy pill if it’s suitable for you (as determined by a clinician). It is not an appropriate treatment for everyone.
Wegovy is discouraged if:
You suffer from severe digestive problems like gastroparesis
You are allergic to semaglutide
You are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding
How do you take Wegovy tablets?
Wegovy tablets should be taken:
Once a day
First thing in the morning on an empty stomach
At least 30 minutes before you eat / drink / take any other medication
Swallowed whole with a small sip of water
New patients will start on the lowest dose of the treatment and increase after a 30-day period until they’re on the maximum dose. This is done to gradually allow your body to get used to the medication and reduce the chance of suffering from side effects.
Wegovy tablet dosages and dosing schedule
The dosages for Wegovy are:
Dose | Days on dose |
1.5 mg tablet once daily | At least one month |
4 mg tablet once daily | At least one month |
9 mg tablet once daily | At least one month |
25 mg tablet once daily | At least one month |
How effective is the Wegovy tablet for weight loss?
In the OASIS 4 trial, people taking Wegovy 25 mg tablets lost an average of 13.6% of their body weight after 64 weeks, compared with 2.2% with placebo. All patients in the trial followed a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
The results of this trial also summarised:
| Amount of weight lost after 64 weeks | % of people taking Wegovy 25 mg tablets | % of people on placebo |
| At least 5% weight loss | 76.3% | 30.5% |
| At least 10% weight loss | 59.8% | 14.1% |
| At least 15% weight loss | 47% | 5.4% |
| At least 20% weight loss | 27.9% | 3.0% |
What are the differences between Wegovy injections and Wegovy tablets?
The main differences between Wegovy as an injection and as a pill are:
How they’re taken
How often they’re taken – the injection weekly, the tablet daily
Available dosage strength
Both forms contain semaglutide, but they are different formulations with different dosing schedules and instructions for use. They should not be swapped, combined or changed without advice from a clinician.
Can I switch from the Wegovy injection to the Wegovy pill?
Patients using semaglutide injection may be able to switch to semaglutide tablets only where a clinician confirms this is suitable. The timing and starting dose must be decided by the clinician.
For more information, read our article on switching treatments.
Wegovy pill side effects
Side effects were reported by patients on the clinical trials for the Wegovy pill. The most common of these was adverse gastrointestinal effects, which 74% of patients suffered from (compared to 42.2% on placebo).
Other very common side effects of Wegovy (i.e. those that may affect more than 1 in 10 people) include:
Feeling and being sick
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Stomach pain
Headaches
Feeling weak / tired
Some side effects may improve as the body adjusts, but patients should seek clinical advice if side effects are severe, persistent or concerning.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) include:
Dizziness
Upset stomach
Burping and gas
Bloating or inflamed stomach
Indigestion, reflux or heartburn
Gallstones
Hair loss
Changes to skin sensation
Low blood sugar
Change in the way food and drink tastes
If you experience side effects, talk to your doctor or a clinician. For less common possible side effects, consult the patient information leaflet for Wegovy.
